What is this book about?
The book meticulously examines the religious life of Virginia from its founding in the early 1600s through the mid-17th century. It focuses on three primary streams of English religious thought that influenced the colony: the Puritan tradition (both Separatists and Independents), the established Anglican church, and the burgeoning groups of dissenters (like Baptists and Presbyterians) and later, Evangelicals. The narrative explores how these traditions interacted, often clashed, and sometimes coexisted, shaping the laws, social structures, and personal beliefs of Virginians. It highlights the colony's relative religious tolerance compared to other English colonies, but also the persistent efforts of authorities to maintain control over religious expression through the established church and specific legal measures.
